The families of four sorority sisters who tragically lost their lives on California’s Pacific Coast Highway are taking legal action against the state and local governments for the dangerous conditions that led to their deaths. Niamh Rolston, Peyton Stewart, Asha Weir, and Deslyn Williams, students at Pepperdine University and sorority sisters, were walking along the beachside roadway in Malibu when a speeding driver struck them, killing the girls and injuring another student in October 2023.
The incident occurred on a stretch of road known as “Dead Man’s Curve,” a notorious pedestrian hazard where high-speed traffic passes through a residential area. This area has seen over 3,000 collisions, 52 deaths, and 92 serious injuries between 2013 and 2023. The families of the victims have filed lawsuits against the state of California, the California Department of Transportation, the California Coastal Commission, Los Angeles County, and the city of Malibu for failing to address the dangerous conditions along the highway.
According to the lawsuits, visitors to a public beach are forced to walk along unprotected shoulders without sidewalks or crosswalks, putting them at risk of being hit by vehicles. Despite a plan approved by the Malibu City Council in 2015 for improvements to the Pacific Coast Highway, only seven out of 130 proposed measures have been completed. The families’ attorney, Dan Kranmer, stated that authorities were aware of the dangers posed by the road but did not take sufficient action to protect pedestrians.
The driver responsible for the girls’ deaths, Fraser Bohm, is facing charges of murder and vehicular manslaughter. One of the victims, Carlos Solloa, suffered injuries in the incident and is also a plaintiff in the lawsuits. While the families hold Bohm accountable for his actions, their main goal is to make Dead Man’s Curve safer for everyone. Barry Stewart, father of Peyton Stewart, has been actively advocating for improvements to the roadway, demonstrating immense strength and determination in the face of tragedy.
The families hope that by holding the responsible parties accountable and pushing for changes to the dangerous road conditions, they can prevent future tragedies and ensure the safety of pedestrians along the Pacific Coast Highway. It is a heartbreaking situation that highlights the importance of prioritizing public safety and taking action to prevent senseless loss of life on our roadways.
